Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

[Mick]

Is anyone aware of where I could locate a list of frqs. used at this event? Thanks much in advance.

[mcnicoljs]

I am not sure about chase crews or the zebras but the safety is on the Albuquerque public safety EDACS system.

[ILikeHatchChili]

I'v never been to the balloon festival in Albuquerque, but I would monitor the GMRS frequencies (with the PL search turned on).

Originally Posted by Mick

Is anyone aware of where I could locate a list of frqs. used at this event? Thanks much in advance.

[401402]

darn i' have to miss this great event this year

[bheisner]

Here are 2 frequencies that I confirmed this evening at Ballon Fiesta Park:

451.5625R DPL 226 Command Post
452.6375R DPL 271 Traffic Control

[ColdStone]

This may help too.

Tower 120.3
ATIS 118.0
Flight Service Station (weather brief) 122.55
AWOS Double Eagle 119.025
Balloon Fiesta Weather 120.65

From AIBF website

[nmbobcat]

Try the following:
Command Post:
451.5625 CP1
452.6375 CP2
462.2250 CP3

Mobiles:
451.7375 MOB (Freq ID 1)
451.7625 MOB (Freq ID 1)
462.1875 MOB (Freq ID 2)
463.2125 MOB (Freq ID 2)
463.4125 MOB (Freq ID 3)
463.8625 MOB (Freq ID 3)
464.1625 MOB (Freq ID 3)
464.3625 MOB (Freq ID 4)
466.5125 MOB (Freq ID 5)
467.2250 MOB (Freq ID 6)
468.4625 MOB (Freq ID 7)
468.8625 MOB (Freq ID 8)
469.0375 MOB (Freq ID 9)
452.2875 MOB (Freq ID 10)
452.4125 MOB (Freq ID 11)
452.5125 MOB (Freq ID 12)
452.6875 MOB (Freq ID 14)
452.7625 MOB (Freq ID 15)
456.5625 MOB (Freq ID 16)
457.6375 MOB (Freq ID 17)
461.6875 MOB (Freq ID 18)

Launch Directors:
464.6875 Launch Directors

AIBF WX:
120.6500 AIBF WX

The Launch Directors are low powered and you will need to be near the field to hear them, but if you ant to know what is happening with an event listen to the Launch Director frequency. A couple of the MOB frequencies are also used by local businesses (464.1625 MOB (Freq ID 3) for instance).

Dave

[nmbobcat]

Also noted the comment made by mcnicoljs. You will find a few chase crews on GMRS, and you'll hear many more chase crews on the Business Low Power power frequencies (see http://wiki.radioreference.com/index...t_and_Business).

Dave

[bheisner]

Here are some confirmed frequencies from this morning:

451.5625R DPL 226 CP1
452.6375R DPL 271 CP2
462.2250S DPL 431 CP3

[abqscan]

Here is a Zebra radio....

[bheisner]

Here are some of the Park and Ride frequencies in use:

452.0000R DPL 065
461.8000R PL 67.0 <=== most active
463.3500R PL 103.5
463.9250R PL 103.5
464.3500R PL 179.9

[bheisner]

These are the frequencies that I managed to confirm this weekend:

462.2250S DPL 431 Security CP1 (Emergency)
451.5625R DPL 226 Security CP2 (Traffic Control)
452.6375R DPL 271 Security CP3 (Primary)

464.6875S DPL 743 Launch Directors (Primary - used for countdowns)

469.1125S DPL 445 Launch Directors
469.1875S DPL 612 Launch Directors
469.9125S DPL 054 Launch Directors

463.8625S DPL 174 Concessions

452.0000R DPL 065 Park & Ride Buses
461.8000R PL 67.0 Park & Ride Buses
463.3500R PL 103.5 Park & Ride Buses
463.9250R PL 103.5 Park & Ride Buses
464.3500R PL 179.9 Park & Ride Buses

[nmbobcat]

I used to have all the launch director frequencies a number of years ago, but when the Balloon Fiesta moved to new radios about the same time APD, AFD, BCSO, etc. moved to the EDACS system they abandoned their old frequencies. I had found numerous FCC licenses over the last few years for the Balloon Fiesta in the FCC database and quickly found the new CP frequencies, but not the Launch Directors. I couldn’t figure out why they were not on the same radio license. I have been trying to get all the Launch Director frequencies for about three years using a BCD396T and Close Call, but chasing those Zebras around isn’t easy and I don’t get much opportunity to be on the field. I live up in Rio Rancho and cannot hear these from my home even with a directional antenna. These radios don’t appear to be using much more then about a watt of power. A couple of years ago I found the Primary Launch Director frequency, but still didn’t figure out what license, and what other frequencies they were using until the other night. With the picture provide by abqscan and the frequency list last posted by bheisner I think I’ve got it figured out now.

The license the Launch Directors are using is listed under the company of Valleywide Communications out of Scottsdale, Az. They provide radios for all sorts of sporting events. After using the new information I found a license in the FCC database under their name but with an Albuquerque “Control Point” address on Alameda Blvd right near the Balloon Fiesta under the call sign WQDB522.

The frequencies associated with this license match up well with the Launch Directors and some other radio frequencies in use at the Fiesta. They are listed below:
451.1875
451.4375
451.5875
452.1125
452.8625
461.0500
462.2375
462.4125
464.6875 Launch Director Primary
469.1125 Launch Director
469.1875
469.2875
469.5875 Launch Director Mid Section
469.7125
469.8875
469.9125

I was on the field this morning and heard lots of Launch Director and other Fiesta radio traffic on these frequencies. I think my mystery is solved, but would like feedback from any others that may be out at the Fiesta and are scanning.

Dave